First time at Tales of the Cocktail for Purely Syrup: industry professionals called us Tales Virgins!

After an arrival in New Orleans under 95 sticky degrees, we wandered through the streets of the French Quarter in pursuit for the best Jambalaya before walking in the Hotel Monteleone for our first event.

On Wednesday afternoon, on to the hot - in all senses- Redemption Rock Rye Pool Tasting, taking place on the roof of the Hotel. A rocking party thanks in part to our spicy “Tales of Redemption” cocktail using our Habanero syrup. The heat eventually led us all… in the pool.

Busy day on Thursday, with Cocktail Guru Jonathan Pogash using Purely Syrup Habanero and Classic at the Sandeman event at Hotel Monteleone while the “Indie Spirit That Rock” at the Royal Sonesta was also happening. Amazing crowds, enjoying once again the sweet heat of our Habanero based “Tales of Redemption.”

We dedicated the rest of the week to tasting rooms: no better way to fight the heat than boozy refreshments!Friday morning, The Sazerac tasting room and the Deep Eddy Vodka Cocktail Carnival were a lot of fun, followed by the “Talk with a pro: an awesome threesome” conference. Ann Tuennerman was there to talk about the birth of Tales, along with Claire Smith Wagner, head of Spirit Creation of Belvedere Vodka, and Lorena Vasquez, Master Blender of Zacapa Rum. They both shared their experience and knowledge of the industry. Definitely a lot to learn from that!

All those events and connections made us hungry, which was the perfect excuse to leave the hotel and treat ourselves with beignets dipped in café au lait at famed Café du Monde… delicious!